This psalm was intended to be sung during the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, which reminded the Israelites of God's law. The psalm calls the Israelites to joyful worship of God, their strength, through music and instruments. It then relays a message from God, pleading with the Israelites to listen to Him and obey His commandments to avoid foreign gods. God promises blessings like protection from enemies and food if the Israelites obey Him, but notes they did not listen in the past.

1. Dr. Pothana
Psalm 81

2. God O u r Strength

3. Psalm 81: The background of the psalm appears to be the
Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:34-44), which reminded the
people of God’s law and also constituted the feast of
ingathering (Exodus 23:16).
Verses 1-16: This psalm was intended to be used in the
celebration of one of the feasts of Israel, most likely the
Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles. After the call to worship
(verses 1-5), the psalm presents a message from God in
the first person (verses 6-16). This oracle pleads with
Israel to “listen” to Him (verse 13), so that He might pour
out on the nation the blessings of the covenant.
I. A Call to Joyful Worship (81:1-5).
II. A Call to Godly Obedience (81:6-16).

4. I. A Call to Joyful Worship (81:1-5).
1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
2 Begin the music, strike the timbrel,
play the melodious harp and lyre.
3 Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
4 this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 When God went out against Egypt,
he established it as a statute for Joseph.
timbrel
harp and lyre
ram’s horn

5. II. A Call to Godly Obedience (81:6-16).
I heard an unknown voice say:
6 “I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9 You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
13 “If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

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